Understanding Lake Winnipeg

Lake Winnipeg, the tenth largest lake in the world, is in trouble. Researcher Greg McCullough is committed to finding the solutions and his work has not gone unnoticed.

The Lake Winnipeg Foundation presented McCullough with the 2012 Alexander Bajkov (1894-1955) award last night. The award is given in memory of Bajkov, one of the first people to study Lake Winnipeg. The award recognizes McCullough’s dedication to the understanding of Lake Winnipeg and his efforts to protect, preserve and restore the lake and its watershed through his research studies.

McCullough, a research associate with the Centre for Earth Observation Science in the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, has worked for the betterment of Lake Winnipeg, largely on his own time and at his own cost.

“I congratulate Dr. McCullough on receiving this very deserving recognition,” said Dr. Digvir Jayas, vice-president (research and international) and Distinguished Professor at the University of Manitoba. “His contribution to the scientific knowledge surrounding the cause and effect of algae blooms on the lake has advanced understanding of this sensitive relationship not only in Manitoba, but around the globe.”

McCullough is most known for his work with satellite remote sensing of algae blooms and the resulting problem of the ecosystem’s response to the addition of artificial or natural substances such as nitrates and phosphate. His research has highlighted the role that flooding of agricultural land plays in the release of nutrients to the various watersheds of Lake Winnipeg.

He is a current member of the International Association of Great Lakes Researchers and a former member of the Manitoba Water Services Board and the recipient of many awards and honours including the U of M Distinguished Dissertation award for “groundbreaking, novel contribution to his academic discipline.”

McCullough’s commitment to communicating science to the public was exemplified via his public website, where he educated scientific colleagues, policy makers and the public on the increasing frequency and extent of algal blooms in Lake Winnipeg. To view the site visit http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~gmccullo/LWsat.htm

For more information contact Dr. Greg McCullough at 204.474.9980, gmccullo@cc.umanitoba.ca